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Rental Market Trends in San Marcos, CA

What is the average rent in San Marcos, CA?

$2,354/month

Average Rent

703 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+0.6%

Increase in the Last Year

As of July 2025, the average rent in San Marcos, CA is $2,354 per month. This is 44% higher than the national average rent price of $1,637/month, making San Marcos one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in San Marcos, you can expect to pay about $2,414 per month for a studio, $2,354 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $2,771 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,664 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,414/month
582 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,354/month
703 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,771/month
966 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,664/month
1,212 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,549/month
1,138 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,396/month
1,674 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$5,308/month
2,510 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,508/month
1,000 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,010/month
1,470 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in San Marcos, CA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 0.6%, which averages out to $14 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated July 2025
Legend
2024 2025
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in San Marcos, CA
Last Updated July 2025
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in San Marcos, CA
Percentage*
Rent Range
0% Below $700/month
0% $700 - $1,000/month
8% $1,001 - $1,500/month
20% $1,501 - $2,000/month
72% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Marcos?

Based on current rent prices, Lancer Park is the most affordable neighborhood in San Marcos.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Lancer Park
$2,660/month
651 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Marcos?

Based on current rent prices, Lancer Park is the most expensive neighborhood in San Marcos.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Lancer Park
$2,660/month
651 Sq Ft

Which San Marcos neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhood in San Marcos with the most apartments available is Lancer Park .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Lancer Park
$2,660/month
651 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in San Marcos, CA?

Because the average rent in San Marcos is $2,354, you’ll want to make about $7,846 per month or $94,152 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

City

San Marcos, CA

473 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does San Marcos, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare San Marcos, CA to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for San Marcos, CA

Apartment Averages

Lancer Park

San Marcos, CA

Lancer Park

San Marcos, CA

Studio
-
-
One Bedroom
-
-
Two Bedroom
-
-
Three Bedroom
-
-
Search
Search

Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Vista Average Rent
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Apartment communities in San Marcos we think you'll love

Prominence Apartments

Prominence Apartments

601 S Twin Oaks Valley Rd,
San Marcos, CA 92078

1-2 Beds | $2,498 - $3,398

Palomar Station

Palomar Station

1257 Armorlite Dr,
San Marcos, CA 92069

Studio - 3 Beds | $2,571 - $4,908

WINDSOR MANOR I

WINDSOR MANOR I

250 Knoll Rd,
San Marcos, CA 92069

1-2 Beds | $1,925 - $2,375

Virano Apartments

Virano Apartments

1635 Creek St,
San Marcos, CA 92078

1-3 Beds | $2,750 - $4,300

Property Management Companies in San Marcos, CA

R.A. Snyder Properties, Inc.
R.A. Snyder Properties, Inc.
  • 56

    Communities

  • 4,523

    Units

  • 16

    Cities

5 Communities in San Marcos
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,278

    Communities

  • 911,374

    Units

  • 849

    Cities

4 Communities in San Marcos
AMC
AMC
  • 663

    Communities

  • 128,973

    Units

  • 264

    Cities

3 Communities in San Marcos
Sunrise Management
Sunrise Management
  • 76

    Communities

  • 8,410

    Units

  • 33

    Cities

2 Communities in San Marcos
Woodspear Properties
Woodspear Properties
  • 23

    Communities

  • 2,901

    Units

  • 13

    Cities

2 Communities in San Marcos
AvalonBay
AvalonBay
  • 238

    Communities

  • 80,452

    Units

  • 154

    Cities

1 Community in San Marcos
North Coast
North Coast
  • 18

    Communities

  • 3,222

    Units

  • 16

    Cities

1 Community in San Marcos
CTM Apartment Services
CTM Apartment Services
  • 23

    Communities

  • 2,311

    Units

  • 16

    Cities

1 Community in San Marcos

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United States California San Marcos Rental Trends

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2025.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity